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Anecdotes  for  o 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #693 

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No.  133. 

ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 


No.  3. 


A  Genkral  Order  from  ''  Stonewall." — The  follow- 
ing order  was  issued  by  Gen.  Jackson,  relating  to  the 
recent  gallant  exploits  of  his  army  : 

Head-quarters,  V.  D.,     . 
Winchester,  May  26,    1862. 

Within  four  weeks  this  army  has  made  long  and 
rapid  marches,  fought  six  combats  and  two  battles,  sig- 
nally defeating  the  enemy  in  each  one,  captured  several 
stands  of  colors  and  pieces  of  artillery,  with  numerous 
prisoners  and  vast  medical,  ordnance,  and  army  stores, 
and  finally  driven  the  boastful  host,  which  was  ravaging 
our  beautiful  country,  into  utter  rout.  The  general 
commanding  would  warmly  express  to  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command  his  joy  in  their  achievements, 
and  his  thanks  for  their  brilliant  gallantry  in  action, 
and  their  patient  obedience  under  the  hardships  of 
forced  marches,  often  more  painful  to  the  brave  soldier 
than  the  dangers  of  battle.  The  explanation  of  the  se- 
vere exertions  to  which  the  commandinof  general  called 
the  army,  which  were  endured  by  them  with  such 
cheerful  confidence  in  him,  is  now  given  in  the  victory 
of  yesterday.  He  receives  this  proof  of  their  confi- 
dence in  the  past  with  pride  and  gratitude,  and  asks 
only  a  similar-confidence  in   the  future.      But  his  chief 


2  ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 

duty  to-day,  and  that  of  the  army,  is  to  recognize  de- 
voutly the  hand  of  a  protecting  Providence  in  the  bril- 
liant successes  of  the  last  three  days,  which  have  given 
us  the  results  of  a  great  victory  without  great  Jossrs, 
and  to  make  the  oblation  of  our  ihanUs  to  God  for  His 
mercies  lo  us  and  our  country  in  heartfelt  acts  of  reli- 
gious worship.  For  tliis  purpose  the  troops  will  remain 
in  camp  to-day,  suspending,  as  far  as  practicable,  all 
military  exercises,  and  the  chaplains  of  regiments  will 
hold  divine  service  in  their  several  charges  at  four 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  to-day. 

By  order  of  Major-Generui  Jackson. 

R.  L.  Dabney, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 


Camp  Notes. — 'rhougli  I  cannot  rival  ilie  graphic  pen 
of  ^'Ecclesiastes,^'  I  propose  to  give  you  one  or  two  items 
corrective  of  and  additional  to  his  interesting  sketch  of 
Stonewall  Jackson.  The  hero  is  not  six  feet  by  an  inch 
and  a  half,  and  must  lack  from  ihiriy  to  forty  pounds 
of  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  given  him  by  "Ecclesi- 
astes."  He  dresf?es  in  very  plain  gray,  including  a  cap 
of  the  same  color.  He  rides  generally  a  sorrel  horse  of 
not  specially  fine  appearance,  but  of  great  endurance, 
and  is  always  pacing  at  a  rapid  gait.  He  passes  you 
with  an  absent  look,  and  ypu  think  he  will  not  even  see 
you,  but  as  he  is  nearly  gone  you  are  surprised  lo  re- 
ceive the  courteous  military  salute.  His  lips  are  thin, 
and  always  closely  compressed.  He  does  not  impress 
one  as  possessing  social  (jualiiies,  and  he  is.  declared  to 
be  the  most  taciturn  man  in  the  world. 

In  the  late  march  lo  Richmond,  no  one  knew  our  des- 


ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERg.  3 

tination.  In  reply  to  the  remark  of  some  one  wishing  t 
know,  one  of  Jackson's  men  said  :  '*  I  donH  know,  and  1 
donU  ivant  to  know — ^Oid  Jack'  knows.'^  It  was  a  beau- 
tiful instance  of  faith  in  a  commander,  and  an  equally 
beautiful  illustration  of  the  faith  which  we  are  all  called 
on  to  repose  in   "the  Captain  of  our  salvation." 


The  Christian  Warrior. — Gen.  Jackson  telegraph- 
ed to  Richmond,  on  the  lOih  instant,  from  Staunton,  the 
following  brief  but  expressive  message:  "God  has 
granted  us  A  Great  Victory!"  This  reminds  us  of 
ihe  beginning  of  Commodore  McDonough's  despatch, 
on  gaining  the  battle  of  Lake  Champlain,  in  the  war  of 
1813:   "  Ii  has  pleased  the  Almighty,"  etc. 

Valley  District,  May  9,  1862, 
via  Staunton,  May  10. 
To  Gen.  S.  Cooper,  Adj iit ant- General : 

God  blessed  our  arms  with  a  victory  at  McDowell's 
on  yesterday. 

(Signed)         T.  J.  JACKSON,  Major-General. 


**  Stonewall." — Some  discussion  has  recently  taken 
place  in  the  Yankee  journals  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
sobriquet  of  *'  Stonewall,"  which  General  Thomas  J. 
Jackson  has  rendered  so  illustrious.  The  incident 
which  conferred  this  honorable  title  on  General  Jack- 
son was  first  given  to  the  public  in  a  Richmond  letter 
to  the  Mercury,  which  appeared  soon  after  the  battle  of 
Manassas.     We  reproduce  the  pas.sage  referred  to : 

The  remains  of  General   Bernard  E.  Bee  leave  here 


1  ANECDOTES  FOR  OUR  80LDIERS. 

to-moN-ow  for  Charleston.  Tlie  name  of  this  officer 
deserves  a  place  in  the  highest  niche  of  fame.  He  dis- 
pla3^ed  a  gallantry  tliat  scarcely  has  a  parallel  in  histo- 
ry. The  brunt  of  the  morning's  battle  was  sustained 
by  his  command  until  past  two  o'clock.  Overwhelmed 
by  superior  numbers,  and  compelled  to  yield  before  a 
fire  that  swept  everything  before  it,  General  Bee  rode 
up  and  down  liis  lines,  encouraging  his  troops,  by  every- 
thing that  was  dear  to  ihem,  to  stand  up  and  repel  tl)c 
tide  which  threatened  lliem  with  destruction.  At  last 
his  own  brigade  dwindled  to  a  mere  handful,  with  every 
field  officer  killed  or  disabled.  He  rode  up  to  General 
Jackson  and  said,  "General,  they  are  beating  us  back." 
The  reply  was  :  *'  Sir,  we  '11  give  them  the  bayonet." 
General  Bee  immediately  rallied  the  remnant  of  his 
brigade,  and  his  last  words  to  them  were:  ^^Tliere  is 
Jackson,  standing  like  a  stone  wall.  Let  us  determine 
to  die  here,  and  we  will  conquer.     Follow  me  !" 

His  men  obeyed  the  call ;  and  at  the  head  of  his  col- 
umn, the  very  moment  when  the  battle  was  turning  in 
our  favor,  he  fell  mortally  wounded.  General  Beaure- 
gard was  heard  to  say  he  had  never  seen  such  gallant- 
ry. Fie  never  murmured  at  his  suffering,  but  st-emed 
to  be  consoled  by  the  reflection  that  he  was  doing  his 
dutv. 


*'  Words  of  Jesus." — It  lay  neglected  in  a  corner  of 
the  tent — the  little  book,  with  its  lowly,  yet  lofty  title, 
all  unheeded  by  tlie  careless  group  who  crowded  around, 
sent  by  some  loving  mother,  or  sister,  or  wife,  with  an 
earnest  prayer  tliat  it  might  lead  their  loved  ones  to 
think  of  Him  who,  though  "  He  be  not  far  from  every 
one  of  us,"  is  too  often  forgotten  in  this  sinful  world — it 
lay  awaiting  his  mission. 


ANBCD0TK8  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  5 

The  messmates  were  mostly  young;  but  a  few  had 
attained  the  meridian  of  life,  and  some  had  begun  to 
wear  the  look  of  years.  Sev'eral  were  (or  professed  to 
be)  Christians;  but  amid  the  din  of  war  and  temptations 
of  the  camp  their  religion  seemed  almost  forgotten,  or 
laid  aside  for  a  more  convenient  season.  Cards  were 
the  usual  pastime;  and  Christian  and  worldling  alike 
seemed  to  find  more  of  interest  in  them  than  in  the 
weightier  matters  of  ''  righteousness,  temperance,  and 
judgment  to  come."  But  this  afternoon  even  they  were 
laid  aside,  and  there  was  a  feeling  of  ennui  and  sad- 
ness creeping  o'er  all  the  party. 

Finally,  one  of  the  group,  a  noble-hearted  man,  though 
one  who  did  not  always  remember  to  walk  worthy  of 
his  high  vocation,  glanced  at  the  little  volume,  and  took 
it  up  carelessly  to  while  away  the  lime.  The  title  was 
simple,  but  it  grated  harshly  on  his  ear:  "Words  of 
Jesus."  Ah!  who  amid  the  tumult  of  war,  the  confu- 
sion of  the  camp,  and,  in  quieter  hours,  the  thoughts  of 
home,  could  stop  to  meditate  of  Him  who  was  *'  meek 
and  lowly  of  heart,"  the  heavenly  Friend,  who  "  bare 
our  transgressions  and  received  our  chastisements  ?" 
But  the  Spirit  blesse  I  the  book,  as  unthinkingly  h6  pro- 
posed rt-ading  aloud  "for  the  sake  of  something  new," 
as  was  lightly  said.  And  so  the  reading  commenced,  at 
first  carelessly,  but  with  gradually  increasing  interest, 
until  they  heard  gladly  of  Jesus  of  Nazareih,  the  S.a- 
viour  of  sinners.  And  as  they  heard  of  His  weary  life 
on  earih.  His  loneliness,  His  sorrow  and  suffering  for 
sinful  men,  they  forgot  themselves  awhile  to  look  to 
Him,  the  Author  of  eternal  life.  "  Words  of  Jesus." 
What  rest  and  security  they  brtathed,  how  they  pointed 
to  the  blissful  haven  above,  to  the  home  made  ready, 
the  "house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heav- 


6  ANECDOTBS  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS. 

ens,"  and  how  trivial  and  unworthy  seemed  the  life 
below  :  the  strife  of  men,  the  struggle  for  power,  the 
bitter  envyings  and  anger  of  human  hearts.  Over  them 
all  there  came  a  change,  and  for  that  evening  at  least 
they  were  wiser  and  better  men.  With  their  softened 
feelings  came,  too,  remembrances  not  only  of  the  tender 
love  of  dear  ones  at  home,  but  their  earnest  prayers  for 
them,  and  they  felt  that,  like  other  blessings  with  which 
their  lives  were  crowned,  of  tliem  they  were  all  un- 
worthy. 

"  Well,  Charlie,"  spoke  up  one  of  the  hearers,  when 
the  book  was  laid  aside,  and  with  a  voice  which  would 
be  husky  despite  the  light  tone,  "that  was  first-rate, 
better  than  cards,  don't  you  think?"  *' Yes,  indeed," 
was  the  fervent  reply,  "I  believe  some  good  angel  placed 
the  book  there  ;  it  seems  a  message  sent  to  draw  us 
again  into  the  path  of  duty  and  true  happiness  from 
which  we  were  so  sadly  straying,  and  for  one  I  am  truly 
thankful  for  the  gentle  reproof,  the  timely  warninor,  as 
well  as  the  blessed  hope  it  gives  for  a  bright  eternity 
we  may  some  day  enjoy.      It  may  be  soon." 

My  readers,  does  not  tliis  show  that  we  may  be  at 
lea5t  instruments  in  doing  good  by  sending  Bibles  and 
tracts  to  our  soldiers? 

Dear  soldiers  of  our  Confederate  Stales,  periling  your 
lives,  and,  far  more,  your  souls  for  the  sake  of  honor  and 
home  ;  oh!  that  we  could  persuade  yon  to  pause  awhile 
each  day  and  think  of  eternity,  of  the  joy  or  woe  that 
word  contains  for  you.  We  beseech  you  to  abstain  from 
the  profane  word,  the  drink  which,  if  it  fails  to  intoxi- 
cate, still  .deadens  the  mind  and  heart  to  all  that  is 
noble,  pure,  and  good,  to  cease  the  evil-breeding  prac- 
tice of  card  playing,  and  to  lift  yourselves  to  the  stand- 
ard of  true  gentlemen.     Study  the  Bible;    and   though 


ANECDOtES  FOR  OUR  SOLDIERS.  7 

at  first  you  may  not  see  its  beauty  and  preciousness,  yet 
with  prayer  they  will  come  ;  and  if  it  be  your  lot  to  be 
of  the  number  for  whom  we  are  called  to  mourn,  may 
we  feel  the  comfort  of  that  cheering  verse,  *'  Blessed 
are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord,  for  they  rest  from 
their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them." 


An  Incident  of  the  War. — Tlie  contest  in  which  our 
country  is  now  engaged  has  afforded  many  instances  of 
remarkable  Providential  preservation.  One  has  recently 
transpired  in  which  the  writer  feels  a  special  interest. 
A  few  years  ago  it  was  his  privilege,  as  a  Sabbath- 
school  teacher,  to  instruct  a  young  man  whose  history 
was  such  as  to  excite  a  lively  concern  for  his  spiritual 
welfare.  Though  raised  under  the  most  immoral  influ- 
ences at  home,  ye-t  by  Divine  grace,  thus  wonderfully 
imparted  to  an  unbeliever,  he  had  in  a  great  measure 
resisted  these  influences,  and  was  a  very  moral  and  cor- 
rect young  man.  But  of  course  he  had  little  knowledge 
of  religious  truth,  seldom  saw,  perhaps  never  read  the 
Bible.  An  opportunity,  however,  being  offered,  tliough 
he  had  reached  manhood,  he  connected  himself  with 
the  Sabbath-school,  and  was  a  mpst  diligent  and  faithful 
pupil.  Indeed,  the  wiiter,  who  taught  him  for  many 
months,  has  never  known  his  equal.  As  a  reward  for 
liis  good  conduct,  and  a  token  of  the  deep  interest  which 
he  felt  in  him,  his  teacher  presented  him  a  pocket 
Bible. 

About  a  yejir  ago  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  join  the 
army.  Though  ^tilI  not  a  professor  of  religion,  his 
Bible  was  not  forgotten,  and,  from  the  report  of  his  com- 
rades, we  learn  was  regularly  used  in  camp.     And  it  is 


8  ANECDOTES    FOR    OUR    SOLDIERS. 

truly  pleasing  to  know  that  the  samei^fortitude  which 
had  been  manifested  in  early  life,  was  now  exliibited  in 
resisting  the  demoralizing  influences  of  army  life. 
Through  several  very  narrow  escapes  has  lie  been 
brought  by  the  unseen  Hand  which  has  so  long  sus- 
tained him.  But  the  incident  alluded  to  occurred  in  the 
fight  at  Williamsburg,  which  was  his  first  experience  of 
a  regular  battle.  Even  on  the  battle-field  he  was  not 
without  his  Bible.  It  occupied  its  accustomed  place  in 
the  breast-pocket  of  his  overcoat,  near  the  heart.  A 
Minie  ball  from  the  enemy  was  sent  at  him.  It  bore 
almost  exactly  in  the  direction  of  his  heart.  It  entered 
the  coat,  but  the  Bible  was  there  to  receive  it.  It  pene- 
trated the  book  about  one-third  of  its  thickness,  stop- 
ping at,  and  thus  designating  the*6//t  chapter  of  2d 
Kings,  but,  unable  t^  overcome  the  resistance,  glanced 
out,  badly  mutilating  the  Bible,  but  leaving  the  owner 
unhurt. 

May  not  this  interesting  little  incident  of  God's  spe- 
cial providence  serve  as  an  encouragement  to  all  Sab- 
bath-school scholars?  Doubtless  many  young  men  in 
the  army,  likt^  the  one  above  allucied  to,  have  received 
many  useful  lessons  in  the  Sabbaih-school.  Let  them 
learn  from  this  to  value  their  Bibles,  and  to  leave  them 
behind  not  even  when  they  go  into. battle. 


PUBLISHED  BY  TH^  SOUTH  CAROLINA  TRACT  SOCIETY 

i'rint«(l  by  Kvans  .t  Cogswi-il,  No,  3  Ur<>:i'l  rttrect,  Cliarloston,  S.  C. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


